Fodder-bundle binder.



PATENTED APR. 3,"1906.

R. C. SMITH.'

FODDER BUNDLE BINDER.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 19, 1905 tied with ease and rapidity,

No.e17,o11.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented April 3, 1906.

Application filed August 19, 1905. Serial No. 274,897.

T0 @ZZ whom, it mfc/,y concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nashville, in the county of Barry and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful F odder-Bundlc Binder, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for binding and tyingbundles of corn either prior to their delivery to threshing mechanism orto husking and threshing machines.

The principal object is to provide a simple and novel structure by meansof which bundles can be tightly compressed and readily doing away withthe necessity of the workmen stooping and tying the bundles on theground.

The embodiment of the invention which is at present consideredpreferable is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinh Figurel is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, and Fig.4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference-numerals responding drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, a portable rigid open frame is providedconsisting of longitudinal side bars 5, connected by end bars 6 andsupported on legs 7, which may be braced, as shown at 7a. A seat 8 islocated at one end of the frame, and spaced from said seat is a platform9, secured to and upon side bars 5. The platform 9 is disposed adjacentto the seat, leaving a sufficient space, however, for a workman, asindicated in Fig. 2. The portion of the frame on the opposite side ofsaid platform constitutes a shock-support and is preferably providedwith retaining-stakes 10.

The platform 9 has a slot 11 therethrough, which slot is preferablylocated near the edge that is adjacent the seat 8. A compressorstrap 12,of leather or other suitable material, is secured, as shown at 13, tothe under side of the platform at one side of said slot, said strappassing through the slot and having at its free end a stirrup 14, whichis arranged to be passed freely through the slot 1l. A twine-holder inthe form of a box l5 is secured to and beneath the platform 9, and thetwine 16, placed therein, is passed designate corparts in all thefigures of the through an opening 17 end of the slot 1l, the rear edgeof the platform having a recess 18, adapted to receive the free endportieri of the twine to properly hold the saine in position.

In using the structure the frame is placed on edge against the shock ofcorn, which is to be" divided into bundles, and said shock is thentipped over upon the frame, causing the same to assume the positionshown in Fig. l. The operator then takes his position between the seat 8and platform 9 and can readily grasp the stalks. If it is desired tohusk the corn by hand, said operator, seated on the seat 8, can readilyperform this operation, placing the stalks upon the platform 9 asrapidly as the corn is taken therefrom. The compressor-strap is,however, first placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the stirrupthrown rearwardly, and the twine is 1ocated upon the platform with thefree end portion in the recess 1.8. When a bundle of sufficientproportions has been placed upon the platform, the strap is drawn aboutthe same and the stirrup passed through the slot ll. The workman thenplacing one foot in the stirrup can snugly compress the bundle, asindicated in Fig. 2, and afterward readily tie the same. The bundle isthen thrown to one side and the operation repeated. Of course if thecorn is to be husked by machine it is only necessary to divide theshocks into bundles and no hand-husking is done. The structure is thususeful in either case. Moreover, it will be apparent that the bundlescan be readily formed, compressed, and tied with ease and rapidity, sothat a workman can make a greater number of bundles with considerablyless labor and strain than with the old method of tying them on the0round. Moreover, tighter bundles can be 'Formed and less time is used.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a binder of the class described, the

in the platform at one IOO IIO

combination with a low frame having a seat at one end, and ashock-support at the other, of a platform located on an intermediateportion of the frame in spaced relation to both the seat and support,said platform being low enough to permit an operator seated on the seatto reach over the same and secure the material on the support7 and abinding device and twine-holding means located on the portion of theplatform that is adjacent to the seat, said shock-support including anupstanding rear member that inclines downwardly toward the platform todirect the material toward said platform.

2. In a binder of the class described, the combination with a framecomprising spaced longitudinal bars and legs supporting the same, ofrearwardly-inclined stakes mounted on one end of the frame andprojecting above' the bars forming therewith a shock-support,

a seat located on the other end of the frame, a platform located on thebars between the shock-support and seat, said platform having a slot7 acompressing-strap secured at one end to the platform and having astirrup at its free end that is movable through the slot, andtwine-holding means mounted beneath the platform and including devicesfor maintaining the twine upon said platform longitudinally of the bars,said strap and twineholding means being located between the ars.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN C. SMITH.

Witnesses:

RICHARD A. ZEuKE, H. I). WOTRING.

